Part 26

The =anterior aperture= or =inlet= (Apertura pelvis cranialis) is bounded by the =terminal line= (Linea terminalis) or brim, composed of the base of the sacrum dorsally, the ilio-pectineal lines laterally, and the anterior border of the pubis ventrally. It is almost circular in the mare, semi-elliptical in the stallion, and faces obliquely downward and forward. It has two principal diameters. Of these, the =conjugate= or =sacro-pubic diameter= (Conjugata) is measured from the sacral promontory to the anterior end of the symphysis. The =transverse diameter= (Diameter transversa) is measured at the greatest width, i. e., just above the psoas tubercle.

The =posterior aperture= or =outlet= (Apertura pelvis caudalis) is much smaller and is very incomplete in the skeleton. It is bounded above by the third coccygeal vertebra and below by the ischial arch; in the fresh state it is completed laterally by the sacro-sciatic ligament and the semimembranosus muscle.

The =axis= of the pelvis is an imaginary line drawn through the centers of the inlet, cavity, and outlet.

=Sexual Differences.=—Marked differences exist in the size and form of the pelvis in the two sexes. The average =conjugate diameter= is about 9½ inches (ca. 23 to 24 cm.) in the mare, 7½ inches (ca. 18 to 20 cm.) in the stallion. The =transverse diameter= of the inlet averages about 9 inches (ca. 22 to 23 cm.) in the mare, and 8 inches (ca. 20 cm.) in the stallion. The =obliquity= of the inlet is greater in the female; the difference is indicated by the fact that a vertical plane from the pecten cuts the fourth sacral segment in the female, the second in the male. The =outlet= is also larger in the mare, the =ischial arch= being about one-third wider than in the stallion. The =cavity= is much more roomy in the female; the transverse diameter between the middles of the superior ischiatic spines is about 8 inches (20 cm.) in the mare, 6 inches (15 cm.) in the stallion. The pubic part of the =floor= in the female is concave and lies considerably lower than the ischiatic part, which is wide and relatively flat. In the stallion the pubis is very thick centrally, and this part of the floor is convex, while the ischial part is relatively narrow, and is concave from side to side. The =obturator foramina= are correspondingly larger in the female. The ilium is shorter, and the greater sciatic notch deeper and narrower in the male. The pelvis of the gelding, when castration has been performed early, resembles that of the mare; otherwise the male characters appear to be retained to a large degree.

THE FEMUR

The =femur= or thigh bone (Os femoris) is the largest and most massive of the long bones. It extends obliquely downward and forward, articulating with the acetabulum above and the tibia and patella below. It presents for examination a shaft and two extremities.

The =shaft= or =body= (Corpus femoris) is in general cylindrical, but flattened behind, and larger above than below. The =anterior= and =lateral surfaces= are continuous and strongly convex from side to side; there is often a central vertical rough line on the proximal part, but otherwise these surfaces are smooth. They are covered by the quadriceps femoris muscle. The =posterior surface= is wide, flat, and smooth in its proximal fourth. Below this part there is a rough elevation externally for the attachment of the femoral tendon of the biceps femoris, and a rough line internally to which the quadratus femoris is attached. The middle third is narrower, and is rough for the attachment of the adductor muscle. Just below this area an oblique groove crosses the surface, indicating the position of the femoral vessels. The =internal border= bears on its proximal part the =internal trochanter= or =trochanter minor=, a thick rough ridge, to which the ilio-psoas muscle is attached. From this a rough line curves up to the front of the neck and indicates the limit of the attachment of the vastus internus muscle. A narrow rough area about the middle gives attachment to the pectineus muscle, and the =nutrient foramen= is usually found just in front of this mark. The =supracondyloid crest= is situated below the groove for the femoral vessels, and gives origin to the inner head of the gastrocnemius. The =external border= is prominent in its upper part, and bears at the junction of its proximal and middle thirds the =external= or =third trochanter= (Trochanter tertius); this process is curved forward, and furnishes insertion to the tendon of the superficial gluteus muscle. At the lower part is found the =supracondyloid= or =plantar fossa= (Fossa plantaris), in which the superficial flexor arises; it is bounded externally by a thick rough margin, to which the outer head of the gastrocnemius muscle is attached.

FIG. 63.—RIGHT FEMUR OF HORSE, EXTERNAL VIEW. ]

FIG. 64.—RIGHT FEMUR OF HORSE, POSTERIOR VIEW. ]

FIG. 65.—RIGHT FEMUR OF HORSE, INTERNAL VIEW.

1, Anterior part, 1′, posterior part of trochanter major; 2, neck; 3, fovea capitis; 4, crest; 5, trochanteric fossa; 6, external or third trochanter; 7, trochanter minor; 8, eminence for attachment of biceps femoris; 9, internal border; 10, nutrient foramen; 11, groove for femoral vessels; 12, supracondyloid crest; 13, supracondyloid fossa; 14, trochlea; 15, external epicondyle; 16, external condyle; 17, extensor fossa; 18, internal condyle; 19, internal epicondyle; 20, intercondyloid fossa. (After Schmaltz, Atlas d. Anat. d. Pferdes.) ]

The =proximal extremity= (Extremitas proximalis) is large and consists of the head, neck, and great trochanter. The =head= (Caput femoris) is placed at the inner side and is directed inward, upward, and somewhat forward. It is approximately hemispherical and articulates with the acetabulum. It is cut into internally by a deep notch, the =fovea capitis=, in which the pubo-femoral and round ligaments are attached. The articular surface is surrounded by a distinct margin. The =neck= (Collum femoris) is most distinct in front and internally. The =great trochanter= (Trochanter major) is situated externally; it presents three features. The =anterior part= or =convexity= is situated opposite to the head and rises little above the level of the latter; it gives attachment to the deep gluteus muscle, and in the fresh state its outer surface is coated with cartilage, over which a tendon of the middle gluteus passes, to be inserted into the =crest=, which is placed below and behind the convexity. The =posterior part= or =summit= is separated from the convexity by a notch; it is situated behind the plane of the head and rises to a much greater height. It furnishes insertion to part of the middle gluteus muscle. Its posterior border is continued downward as the =trochanteric ridge=, which forms the outer wall of the =trochanteric fossa=. A number of foramina are found in the concave area internal to the convexity.

FIG. 66.—FRONTAL SECTION OF LEFT FEMUR OF HORSE, ANTERIOR VIEW.

The figure shows that the medullary cavity is traversed for the most part by fine bony trabeculæ. ]

The =distal extremity= (Extremitas distalis) is large in both directions and comprises the trochlea in front and two condyles behind. The =trochlea= consists of two ridges separated by a groove, and forms an extensive surface (Facies patellaris) for articulation with the patella. It is very unsymmetrical; the inner ridge or lip is much wider, more prominent, and extends up higher than the external one, and the two converge below. The =condyles=, =internal= and =external= (Condylus medialis, lateralis), are separated by the deep =intercondyloid fossa= (Fossa intercondyloidea), and articulate with the condyles of the tibia and the semilunar cartilages of the stifle joint. A ridge connects each condyle with the lower part of the corresponding lip of the trochlea. The intercondyloid fossa lodges the spine of the tibia and the crucial ligaments of the stifle joint, which are attached here.

The condyles are obliquely placed, with their long axes directed downward, forward, and inward. The articular surface of the external condyle is more strongly convex from side to side than that of the inner one, and the ridge which connects it with the trochlea is much narrower.

The =internal epicondyle= (Epicondylus medialis) is a rounded prominence on the internal surface of the internal condyle, to which the internal lateral ligament and the adductor muscle are attached. The corresponding =external epicondyle= (Epicondylus lateralis) is less distinct; it presents a mark where the lateral ligament is attached, below and behind which there is a depression (Fossa musculi poplitei) in which the popliteus muscle arises. Between the external condyle and trochlea is the =extensor fossa= (Fossa extensoria), in which the tendon of origin of the anterior extensor and peroneus tertius is attached.

=Development.=—The shaft and the distal end each ossify from one center, but the proximal end has two centers, one of which is for the great trochanter. The edge of the external trochanter also has a separate center. The proximal end fuses with the shaft at three to three and a half years, the distal at about three and a half years.

FIG. 67.—DISTAL EXTREMITY OF RIGHT FEMUR OF HORSE, END VIEW. ]

THE TIBIA

The =tibia= is a long bone which extends obliquely downward and backward from the stifle to the hock. It articulates above with the femur, below with the tarsus, and externally with the fibula. It possesses a shaft and two extremities.

The =shaft= or =body= (Corpus tibiæ), large and three-sided above, becomes smaller and flattened in the sagittal direction below, but widens a little at the distal end. It presents for notice three surfaces and three borders. The =internal surface= (Facies medialis) is broad above, where it furnishes insertion to the internal lateral ligament and the sartorius and gracilis muscles; below this it is convex and subcutaneous. The =external surface= (Facies lateralis) is smooth and somewhat spiral. It is wide and concave in its upper part, below which it becomes narrower and slightly convex, and winds gradually to the front of the bone; near the distal end it widens a little, becomes flat, and faces forward. The =posterior surface= (Facies posterior) is flattened, and is divided into two parts by the rough =popliteal line=, which runs obliquely from the upper part of the external border to the middle of the internal border. The triangular area above the line is occupied by the popliteus muscle, while the area below is marked by rough lines (Lineæ musculares) to which the deep flexor muscle of the digit is attached; the lines fade out below, where the surface is smooth and flat. The =nutrient foramen= is situated on or near the popliteal line. The =anterior border= is very prominent in its upper third, forming the =tibial crest= (Crista tibiæ); below it is reduced to a rough line, which ends at a small elevation near the distal end of the bone. The =internal border= (Margo medialis) is rounded in its upper half, to which the popliteus muscle is attached, and a tubercle is found on this part. The lower part is a rough line on well-marked bones. The =external border= (Crista interossea) is concave in its upper part and concurs with the fibula in the formation of the interosseous space of the leg; a smooth impression indicates the course of the anterior tibial vessels through the space to the front of the leg. Lower down the border divides and incloses a narrow triangular surface.

FIG. 68.—RIGHT TIBIA AND FIBULA OF HORSE, EXTERNAL VIEW. ]

The =proximal extremity= (Extremitas proximalis) is large and three-sided. It bears two lateral eminences, the =internal= and =external condyles= (Condylus medialis, lateralis). Each presents a somewhat saddle-shaped surface for articulation with the condyle of the femur and the semilunar cartilage. The =spine= or =intercondyloid eminence= (Eminentia intercondyloidea) is the central prominence, upon which the articular surfaces are continued; it consists of a high inner part and a lower outer part (Tuberculum intercondyloideum mediale, laterale). On, before, and behind the spine are the =anterior= and =posterior intercondyloid fossæ=, in which the anterior crucial ligament and the semilunar cartilages are attached. The condyles are separated behind by the deep =popliteal notch= (Incisura poplitea), on the inner side of which is a tubercle for the attachment of the posterior crucial ligament. The external condyle has an overhanging outer margin, below which is a =facet= for articulation with the fibula. The =large anterior= eminence is the =tuberosity= of the tibia (Tuberositas tibiæ). It is marked in front by a =groove=, the lower part of which gives attachment to the middle patellar ligament, and the groove is flanked by rough areas for the attachment of the internal and external patellar ligaments. A semicircular smooth =notch= (Sulcus muscularis) separates the tuberosity from the external condyle, and gives passage to the tendon of origin of the anterior extensor and the peroneus tertius.

FIG. 69.—RIGHT TIBIA AND FIBULA OF HORSE, POSTERIOR VIEW. ]

The =distal extremity= (Extremitas distalis) is much smaller than the proximal; it is quadrangular in form and larger internally than externally. It presents an =articular surface= (Cochlea tibiæ), which is adapted to the trochlea of the tibial tarsal bone (astragalus), and consists of two grooves separated by a ridge. The ridge and grooves are directed obliquely forward and outward, and are bounded laterally by the =malleoli=, to which the lateral ligaments of the hock joint are attached. The =internal malleolus= (Malleolus tibialis) is the more prominent of the two, and forms the anterior boundary of a groove for the tendon of the inner head of the flexor perforans. The =external malleolus= (Malleolus fibularis) is broader, and is marked by a vertical groove for the passage of the lateral extensor tendon.

FIG. 70.—RIGHT TIBIA AND FIBULA OF HORSE, ANTERIOR VIEW. ]

=Development.=—The tibia has the usual three chief centers of ossification and supplementary ones for the tuberosity and the external malleolus. The latter is really the distal end of the fibula; it is a separate piece at birth, and the line of union is commonly quite evident in the adult in the external articular groove. The proximal end unites with the shaft at about three and a half years, and the distal end at about two years of age.